Photographic product comprising a fluid processing agent and apparatus for use in connection therewith



Oct. 23, 1951 LAND 2,572,357

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCT COMPRISING A FLUID PROCESSING AGENT AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION THEREWITH Filed July 15, 1945 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Film Base Removable Liquid Rdaining Layer l8 l6 l8 Phoioscnsifivc Layer Liquid Refoining Muicrial Receiving Layer Cohfoining Reagcni FIG. I

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Oct. 23, 1951 E. H. LAND 2,572,357

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCT COMPRISING A FLUID PROCESSING AGENT AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION THEREWITH Filed July 13, 1945 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 L l i FIG. 4

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Patented Oct. 23, 1951 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCT COMPRISING A FLUID PROCESSING AGENT AND APPARA- TUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION THERE- WITH Edwin H. Land, Cambridge, Mass., assignor to Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application July 13, 1945, Serial No. 604,839

30 Claims.

1 This invention relates to photography, and more particularly to materials and apparatus useful in connection with the formation of fixed positive images of the subject matter to which a photosensitive layer has been exposed.

One object is to provide novel materials whereby a fixed positive print may be formed of the subject matter of a latent image without further photoexposure and with the use of but a single photographic reagent mixture.

A further object is to provide a novel camera apparatus wherein the above materials may be utilized and a fixed positive image of predetermined subject matter may be obtained shortly after a photosensitive layer is exposed in said camera apparatus to said subject matter.

Still another object is to provide a novel composite film comprising, in combination, a photosensitive layer and the materials required for forming a fixed positive image of the subject matter of a latent image in said layer.

Another object, is to provide a novel film means comprising a permeable layer and means containing a liquid material out of contact with said layer, said means being so constructed that said liquid material may be selectively released therefrom over a predetermined area. of said permeable layer.

Still another object is to provide a novel multiply photographic film comprising a photosensitive layer wherein a latent image may be formed and a liquid-containing layer adapted, when brought into face-to-Iace contact with said PhQ S SitiVG layer, '0 (16 0p S i m A further object of the invention is to provide a novel film of the above type wherein a fixed positive image of the subject matter of said latent image is formed in the liquid-containing layer when the latter layer is brought into contact with the photosensitive layer.

A further object isto provide a novel sheet material comprising means releasably containing a liquid reagent.

A still further object is to provide a novel sheet material of the above character comprising a removable liquid-retaining. sheet.

Still another object is to provide a novel composite sheet material comprising a liquid reagent and a liquid-retaining member, said material being of such character that when said retaining member is removed and the remainder of the sheet is. brought into face-to-face contact with a developable photosensitive emulsion containing a. latent image, a fixed positive of said latent image is formed insaid sheet material.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel camera apparatus comprising means for removing one ply from a multi-ply film and for bringing the remainder of said film into face-to-face contact with a photosensitive layer which has been exposed in said camera apparatus.

Another object is to Provide a novel camera apparatus of the above character wherein a film comprising three plies may have the central ply of the three removed subsequent to the exposure of said film in said apparatus and the other two of said. plies brought into face-to-face contact with one another.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear elsewhere.

The invention accordingly comprises the product possessing the features, properties and the relation of components, and the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of e ements and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detailed description, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a iuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanyin drawings wherein:

Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic, transverse sectional view of one typ of film means comprehended by the present invention, the thicknesses of the several layers of said film means being exaggerated for the purpose of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a somewhat. diagrammatic, longitudinal sectional View, with parts shown in elevation, of one form of apparatus which may be utilized in combination with the film means of Fig. l for producing a fixed positive image;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a camera apparatus wherein the novel liquid-containing sheet material of the present invention may be utilized to provide a fixed positive image of subject matter to which a photosensitive film in said camera has been exposed;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of still another type of camera apparatus which may be employed in conjunction with the film means of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modification of the camera means of Fig. 4.

In a preferred form, the present invention comprises a multilayer sheet material including among the several layers thereof a layer of developable photosensitive material such, for example, as a silver halide, mixed silver halide, or silver mixed halide emulsion, a layer of permeable and relatively orous material in or on which a positive image may be formed and a removable layer of material separating said first-named layers. The image-receiving layer preferably contains a liquid reagent which is adapted, upon permeation of said photosensitive layer, to form a fixed positive image in or on said receiving layer of the subject matter of any latent image 3 formed in said photosensitive layer and the separating layer is preferably formed of a material which is impervious to the vapors of the liquid material of said reagent and to oxygen. The rea ent preferably contains a de eloper and is adapted to form in a photosensitive layer containing a latent image an image-forming com ponent for giving a positive image of the subject matter of said latent image, preferably in an adjoining layer of suitably selected material. Suitable reagents for this purpose are disclo ed in my copending applications Serial No. 539,550, filed June 9, 1944,entitledPhotographic Product, Process and Apparatus (now abandoned and replaced by app ation serial No 64.870 ld December 11, 1948, which issued as Patent No. 2.543.181 on February 27, 1951), and Serial No. 561,696, filed November 3. 1944, entitled Photographic Product and Process (now Patent No. 2,500.421, issued March 14, 1950). Although it is preferable to employ a" relatively nonviscous reagent. for example one having a viscosity approximately the same as water, it is also possible to ut lize a rea ent of a higher viscosity which includes, in addition to the other reagent ingredients. a suitable thickening agent such as a filmformin material. Examples of reagents of the latter type are disclosed fully in my copending appication Serial No. 576,254, filed February 5, 1945, entit ed Photographic Process, Apparatus and Product (now abandoned and replaced by applications Serial No. 728,983, filed February 17, 1947, for Photographic Product and Composition and Serial No. 7,795, filed February 12, 1948 for Photographic Process.)

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated by Way of example one form of film means comprehended by the invention, and, as shown, said film means comprises a suitable transparent film base In, for example a cellulosic'film base such as cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate butyrate, or cellulose acetate propionate, which serves as a support for a photosensitive emulsion 12 comprising a silver halide.

It is'to be understood that the term "photosensitive emulsion comprising a silver halide? as used herein and in the claims is intended to be generic to an emulsion of a single silver halide salt, an emulsion of mixed silver halide salts, an emulsion of a silver mixed halide salt, or an emulsion of a mixture of the last-named salt with any of the others.

A novel liquid-containing, composite sheet I 4 adapted to provide the receiving layer in which the positive image is to be formed, as well as the liquid reagent for forming said positive image, is mounted adjacent layer l2, and as shown comprises a layer 'of water-permeable and preferably substantially porous material 16 within whose pores there is contained the liquid reagent. Examples of suitable receiving layers for this purpose are regenerated cellulose, polyhydroxy alkanes such as polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, relatively water-permeable cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose or their derivatives such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose or hydroxyethyl cellulose, papers, proteins, such as. glue or receiving layer 4 gelatin, carbohydrates, such as gums and starches, and mixtures of these materials where the latter are compatible.

A layer or coating l8 of material whichis impervious to the vaporsof the liquid material in the reagent, and preferably substantially impervious to oxygen, is rovided on the side of IS remote from photosensitive layer 12, said layer or coating being formed, for example, where the reagent comprises water as the solvent, of a water-vapor-impervious plastic such as polyethylene or ethyl cellulose, or of such other water-vapor-impervious and oxygen-impervious materials as paraffin, metal foil or metal foil coated with parafiin. A silver foil coated on the inside surface, i. e., the surface adjacent layer 16, with a material inert to an alkali, as for example ethyl cellulose or a mixture of ethyl cellulose and paraffin, has proven satisfactory for this purpose.

Separating receiving layer 16 .from photosensitive layer I2 is a sheet 20 formed, for example, of any of the above-mentioned materials which may be used for layer or coating l8. Sheet 20 is preferably connected to layer or coating l8 so that the two form a container for receiving layer l6 whereby the solvent or reagent contained in said layer is retained without evaporation and loss, and whereby the reagent, if susceptible to oxidation, is prevented from being oxidized "by exposure of the composite film to the atmosphere. It is preferable to have layer or coating 18 covering not only the bottom face of receiving layer It, but extending on both edges of said receiving layer to engage the bottom face of sheet 20. The latter may be secured to said coating as by the application of heat and/or pressure or an adhesive.

To form a fixed positive image of predetermined subject matter, layer ll! of the novel composite film has a latent image of said subject matter formed therein by being exposed thereto in a camera. Thereafter, in the absence of light actinic to said layer, as, for example, within the camera, or in the dark room, sheet 20 is removed from between photosensitive layer l2 and receiving layer 16, and the' latter are brought into face-to-face contact with one another as by being passed through a pair of pressure rollers. The reagent contained in layer I6 is thus caused to permeate at least the adjacent surface portions of photosensitive layer l2 and develops the latent imagejn saidphotosensitivelayer. At substan-: tially' the same'time, the reagent begins to form in said receiving layer a fixed positive image of the subject matter of said latent image. After a sufiicient time has elapsed to form the desired image, layer I6 is separated, from layer l2.

In one form of the invention, the liquid reagent preferably comprises a developer and a substance which is adapted to form. a soluble silver complex with the undeveloped silver halide. Examples of reagents of this character are given below byway of illustration, but it is to be expressly understood that "any one of a large number of other reagent mixtures may be employed:

Example I Sodium sulfite (anhydrous) g 9.0 Hydroquinone g 4.5

Sodium thiosulfate Water to matte Water 100 With the above solutions, it is possible to obtain a positive image within thirty to sixty seconds from the time the receiving layer containing the reagent is brought face-to-face with the photo sensitive layer.

In order to form the novel film means of the present invention, the receiving layer, which may be alpha paper or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, is preferably first permeated with the reagent solution and then coated with the water'- vapor-impervious layer 18, which may be paraflln, as by having the latter formed on the exposed face and edges thereof while said layer is held on a suitable nonadhering surface such, for example, as a polished'surface of a metallic plate. Thereafter, sheet 20, which may be a paraffincoated, metal foil, is brought into contact with the uncoated surface of said layer and adhered to the edges of coating I8, for example, by the application of heat and/or pressure.

A novel arrangement of elements whereby the above-described composite film may be caused, after exposure, to form a positive image of the subject matter to which it was exposed, is illustrated' somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 2. Z

This apparatus, which may be included within a camera or which may be provided as a unit in a dark room, comprises a housing 22 within which a take-up roll 24 is substantially centrally mounted, said roll being drivably connected to a pair of pressure rollers 26 by a drive, such as a friction drive (not shown), which permits differential rotation of the driving and driven members. Housing 22 is preferably provided with a slot 28 parallel to the axis of take-up roll 24, on the side of said housing remote from pressure rollers 26, and is preferably split intotwo sections 22a and 22b, said sections being secured together by suitable hinge means 220 whereby one of said sections may be held stationary while the other is pivoted with respect thereto to facilitate the threading of a film into take-up roll 24. One of pressure rollers 26 is preferably mounted so that it may be moved axially relative to the other as, for example, by having its shaft mounted in a recess 30 formed in a suitable bracket 32 which also mounts the other of said rollers. To press said rollers together, suitable means such, for example, as spring 34, is provided.

In operation, sheet 20 of the novel composite film of the invention is preferably threaded into take-up roll 24, being readily separable from layers l2 and I6 and the portions of the film separated by said sheet are passed on opposite sides of said housing and threaded between pressure rollers 26. As said pressure rollers are operated, photosensitive layer [2 is pressed into face-toe face contact with receiving layer [6, and take-.up roll 24; is frictionally driven to remove sheet 20 frombetween said portions. The drive between pressure rollers 26 and take-up roll 24 is such that the latter roll may readily slip relative to rollers 26 in the event the linear velocity of the film portions passing through said pressure rollerstends to become less than the linear velocity ofthe film as it is wound upon take-up roll 24. The. portions of the film passing through rollers 26 are maintained in assembled position in the absence of light actinic to the photosensitive layer until a positive image has been formed in layer l6. Said portions may then be separated from one another, providing a fixed, positive print in the receiving layer of the subject matter of the latent image in the photosensitive layer. Suitable cutting means may be provided adjacent pressure rollers 26 for severing each film frame from the remainder of the film as it completes its travel through said pressure rollers.

Although composite sheet I4 has been described above as comprising part of a unitary photographic film which includes photosensitive layer I2, it is to be understood that said sheet may be provided as a separate product for use in conjunction with conventional photographic films. A novel arrangement of elements whereby sheet material l4 may be used in conjunction with an exposed photosensitive layer to provide a fixed positive image in a layer of said sheet material of the subject matter of a latent image in said photosensitive layer is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3. In the form illustrated, said apparatus comprises suitable mechanism for re moving the liquid-retaining sheet 20 from a roll 39 of sheet material l4, as, for example, an idler roller 40 and a take-up roll 42, the latter being drivably connected by a suitable friction drive, not shown, to a pair of pressure rollers 44. Rollers 44 are preferably provided adjacent to idler roller 40, and the liquid-retaining sheet N5 of sheet material [4 without cover sheet 29 is adapted to be fed between said pressure rollers and brought into face-to-face contact with the photosensitive layer of an exposed photographic film 46. It will be understood that the abovedescribed apparatus may be provided in a dark room or used in a suitable light-tight housing. In the form illustrated, the several elements comprising said mechanism are embodied in an attachment A for a camera C whereby a photo graphic film 46 may be fed between rollers 44, as it is metered from exposure position E by the film-driving mechanism of said camera.

It is desirable to embody within or connect to said attachment suitable means wherein the assembly of sheet l6, l8 and film 46 may be retained in darkness after it passes through rollers 44 and from which said assembly may be removed without exposing the interior of the camera to light. To this end, a chamber 41 is preferably provided adjacent to the pressure rollers and is. connected to the interior of the camera by a suitable light-tight recess 48 lined, for example, with a material such as felt. The assembly com prising film 46 and sheet material l6, I8 is metered into said chamber through said opening and is retained in said chamber during the formation of the positive image. One wall 49 of said chamber is preferably pivotally mounted to serve as a closure, and in closed position does not admit any light into the chamber. However, it may be opened to permit the severance and the removal of the frame of film retained in the chamber. In operation, therefore, the film assembly which is formed between rollers 44 passes through opening 48 into chamber 4'! and after the entire frame has passed into said chamber, it is retained therein in the absence of actinic light for such time as is necessary to effect .the formation of the positive image, as, for example, thirty seconds. Thereafter wall 49 is pivoted outwardly to' open the interior of the chamber and the assembly of sheet materials is severed and removed from the chamber.

A form of camera apparatus wherein the novel composite film means of Fig; 1 may be utilized is shown diagrammatically in Fig. f1 ascomprising means for mounting a roll 50 of said film from which said film may be fed to exposure position E. After being exposed, the film passes between a pair of rollers 52 and is so threaded that central layer thereof is adapted to be wound upon a take-up roll 54 which is connected by means of a friction drive to a pair of pressure rollers 56. Take-up roll 54 is preferably located to one side of the path of travel of liquid-containing sheet [6, 18 as the latter moves from the point at which layer 28 is stripped therefrom to the point at which photosensitive layer l2 of film IE), [2 is brought into contact therewith. As a result of this arrangement, liquid-containing sheet l6, 18, once placed in condition for release of the liquid, does not contact any material except the photosensitive layer of film l0, I2. It is desirable to provide suitable guide means such as a plurality of rollers 53 for film It, I2 as the latter travels from rollers 52 to rollers 56, avoiding take-up roll 54. i

After the separated portions Ill, :2 and l6, is of the composite films are brought into face-toface contact between said pressure rollers, the assembly thus formed passes from the main chamber of the camera into a suitable light-tight chamber formed, for example, of a fiat, rectangular container 58 detachably secured to the camera. The passage from the main camera chamber into container 58 is effected through an opening which connects said chamber and said container, and which has its walls preferably lined with felt to prevent admission of light into said main chamber whenever said container is removed. After the assembly formed by the separated portions of the film is fed through pressure rollers 56 into container 58 and a sufiicient length of time has elapsed to form the fixed positive image in the receiving layer, container 58 is removed from the camera, exposing the assembly comprising the receiving layer and the photosensitive layer. The latter assembly may then be severed from the remainder of the film and the receiving layer separated from the photosensitive layer. Instead of container 58, a suitable semicylindrical container unit 6i may be used as shown in Fig. 5. It is to be expressly understood that any light-tight containing means such, for example, as a flexible bag formed of light-impervious material may also be employed to receive the film assembly as the latter is fed through the pressure rollers.

There is thus provided novel materials whereby a fixed positive print of subject matter to which a photosensitive layer has been exposed may be readily and quickly obtained without further exposure and without the use of baths of fixing agents and other solutions. The materials of the invention may be operatively mounted in a novel camera apparatus and so manipulated therein that a fixed positive image of subject matter to which a photosensitive layer is exposed in said camera is obtained shortly after the exposure, and requires no further treatment.

Since certain changes in the constructions set forth and in the articles which embody the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained within the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character adapted to 8: subject a multilayer film to a predetermined processing, said multilayer film comprising three superposed sheet-like portions, said portions comprising an outer portion including a photosensitive layer, another outer portion capable, when pressed into face-to-face contact with said first-named portion, of subjecting the photosensitive layer thereof to a predetermined processing, and a third portion intermediate said outer portions preventing face-to-face contact there-of, said apparatus comprising, in combina-' tion, means for removing said intermediate portion, said removing means comprising a take-up roll and a housing wherein said take-up roll is mounted, said housing providing surfaces for guiding the portions of the film on opposite sides of the removed portions around said take-up roll, and means for pressing the portions of the film on opposite sides of the removed portion into faceto-face contact with one another.

2. In apparatus of the character adapted to subject a multilayer film to a predetermined processing, said multilayer film comprising three superposed sheet-like portions, said portions comprising an outer portion including a photosensitive layer, another outer portion capable, when pressed into face-to-face contact with said first-named portion, of subjecting the photosensitive layer thereof to a predetermined processing, and a third portion intermediate said outer portions preventing face-to-face contact thereof, said apparatus comprising, in combination, means for removing said intermediate portion, said removing means comprising a take-up roll and a housing wherein said take-up roll is mounted, said housing providing surfaces for guiding the portions of the film on opposite sides of the removed portions around said take-up roll and comprising a pivotal portion facilitating threading of the film into said take-up roll, and means for pressing the portions of the film on opposite sides of the removed portion into faceto-face contact with one another.

3. In a photographic apparatus, means for mounting a supply of photosensitive material, means for photoexposing successive frames .of said supply of photosensitive material, means for mounting a supply of liquid-carrying composite sheet material, said composite sheet material including as three layers thereof a liquid-containing layer which releasably contains a liquid capable of subjecting said exposed frames of photosensitive material to a predetermined processing, a liquid-retaining layer adjacent one surface ofsaid liquid-containing layer and a base layer adjacent the other surface of said liquid-containing layer, both said base layer and said liquid-retain ing layer being formed of material substantially impervious to the liquid of said liquid-containing layer and together forming opposite sides of an envelope for said liquid-containing layer, said composite sheet being of a length sufficient to process a plurality of said exposed frames of photosensitive material, means adjacent said supply means for said composite sheet material for engaging said liquid-retaining layer and for stripping the same from said composite sheet as the latter is advanced with respect to said engaging means, thereby exposing the surface of the liquidcontaining layer, and means comprising a pair of pressure-applying members between which and with respect to which said photosensitive material, said liquid-containing layer and said base layer are advanced in superposed relation with said base layer andsaid photosensitive material constituting the outer layers, said pressure-apply-. ing members contacting only the dry surface portions of said outer layers of said super-posed materials and subjecting successive increments of said superposed materials to compression to initiate the processing of corresponding increment areas of the photosensitive material.

4. In a photographic apparatus, means for mounting a roll of photosensitive material, means for photoexposing successive frames of said photosensitive material, means for mounting a roll of liquid-carrying composite sheet material, said composite sheet material including as three layers thereof a liquid-containing layer-which releasably contains'a liquid capable of subjecting said exposed frames of photosensitive material to a predetermined processing, a liquid-retaining layer adjacent one surfaceof said liquid-contain?- ing layer and a base layer adjacent the other surface of said liquid-containing layer, both said base layer and said liquid-retaining layer being formed of material --substantially impervious to the liquid of said liquid-containing layer and together forming oppositesides of an envelope for said li uid-containing layer, said composite sheet being of a length suflicient to process a plurality of said exposed frames of hotosensitive material, means adjacent said roll mounting means for said composite sheet material for engaging said liquid-retaining layer and for stripping the same from said composite sheet as the latter is advanced with respect to said engaging means, thereby exposing the surface of the liquid-containing layer, said last-named means comprising a stripping roller and a take-up roller, and means comprising a pair of pressure rollers between which and withrespect to which said photosensitive material, said liquid-containing layer and said'base layer are advanced in superposed relation with said base layer and said photosensitive material constituting the outer layers, said pressure rollers contacting only the dry surface portions of said outer layers of said superposed materials and subjecting successive increments of said superposed materials to compression to initiate the processing of corresponding increment areas of the photosensitive material.

'5. In a photographic apparatus, means for mounting a supply of photosensitive material, means for photoexposing successive "frames of said supply of photosensitive material, means for mounting a supply of liquid-carrying composite sheet material, said composite sheet materialinr;-

eluding as three layers thereof a liquid-containing layer which releasably contains a liquid capable of subjecting said exposed frames of photosensitive material to a predetermined processing, a liouid-retaining layer adjacent one surface of said liquid-containing layer and a base layer ad jacent the other surface of said liouid-containing layer, both said base layer and said liquid-retain ing layer being formed of material substantially impervious tothe'liquid of said liquid-containing layer and together forming opposite sides of an envelope for said liquid-containing layer, said composite sheet being of a length sufficient to process a plurality of said exp'osedframes of photosensitivematerial, means adjacent said supply means for said composite sheet material for engaging said liquid-retaining layer and for stripping the same from said composite sheet as the latter is advanced with respect to saidengaging means, thereby exposing-the surface ofthe liquid-containing-layer, means comprising a pair ofpressure-applying members between which and with respect to which said photosensitive material, said liquid-containing layer and said base layer are advanced in superposed relation with said base layer and said photosensitive material constituting the outer layers, said pressure-applyingmembers contacting only the dry surface portions of said-outer layers of said superposed materials and subjecting successive increments of said superposed materials to compression to initiate the processing of corresponding increment areas of the photosensitive material, and means forming a chamber adiacent said pressureapplying members and comprising an aperture through which said superposed materials may be advanced into said chamber after being pressed together by said pressure-ap lying members, said chamber being substantially opanue to light actinic to said photosensitive material.

6. In a photographic apparatus, means for mounting a supply of photosensitive material, means for photoexposin succe si e frames of said supply of photosen itive material, means for mounting a supply of horrid-carryin composite sheet material, said com osite sh et material including as threelayers thereo a liouid ontaining layer which releasably contains a liouid capable of subjecting said exposed frames of hotosensitive mat rial to a prede e m ned. proce sing, a liquid-retaining laver adiace t one s rface of said lio id-containing layer and a base laver adjacent the oth r surface of said horrid-containing layer, both said base lay r and said lic id-retaining layer being formed of material s bstantiallyimpervious to the liouid of said liouid-containing layer and together formin op osite sides of an envelope for said liquid-containing layer, said composite sheet being of a length sufficient to process a plurality of said ex osed frames of photosensitive material, means adiacent said supply means for said com osite sheet material for engaging said liquid-retaining layer and for stripping the same from said composite sheet as the latter is advanced with respect to said engaging means, thereby exposing the surface of the liquidcontaining layer, means comprising a pair of pressure-applying members between which and with respect-to which said photosensitive material, said liquid-containing layer and said base layer are advancedinsuperposed relation with said base layer andsaid photosensitive material constituting the outer layers, said pressure-applying members contacting only the dry surface portions of said outer layers of said superposed materials and subjecting successive increments of said superposedmaterials to compression to initiate the processing of corresponding increment areas of the photosensitive material, and means forming a'chamber adjacent said pressure-applying members and comprising an aperture through which said superposed materialsmay be advanced into'said chamber after being pressed together by said pressure-applying-members, said chamber being substantially opaque to light actinic to said photosensitive material, said chamber means comprising a closure member which is movable from closed position to permit access to the in terior of said chamber and-to the superposed materials contained therein.

'7. In a photographic apparatus, means for mounting a supply of photosensitive material, means for successively exposing a pluralityof frames of said supply-of photosensitive material, means comprising a liquid-carrying sheet containing a liquid processing agent and being capable, when pressed into contact with said photosensitive material, of releasing part at least of 'said processing agent to process'said photosensitive material and a base sheet upon one surface of which said liquid-carrying sheet is mounted, said base sheet being impervious to the liquid of said processing agent and having a sufficient length of said liquid-carrying sheet mounted thereon to process a plurality of said exposed frames, means comprising a pair of pressure-applying members between which and with respect to which said photosensitive material, said liquid-carrying sheet and said base sheet are advanced in superposed relation with said base sheet and said photosensitive material constituting the outer layers, said pressure-applying means contacting only the dry surface portions of said outer layers of said superposed materials and subjecting successive increments of said superposed materials to compression to initiate the processing of corresponding increment areas of the photosensitive material, and means forming a chamber adjacent said pressure-applying members and comprising an aperture through which said superposed materials may be advanced into said chamber after being pressed together by said pressure-applying members, said chamber being substantially opaque to light actinic to said photosensitive material;

8. In a photographic apparatus, means for mounting a supply of photosensitive material, means for successively exposing a plurality of frames of said supply of photosensitive material, means comprising a liquid-carrying sheet containing a liquid processing agent and being capable, when pressed into contact with said photosensitive material, of releasing part at least of said processing agent to process said photosensitive material and a base sheet upon one surface of which said liquid-carrying sheet is mounted, said base sheet being impervious to the liquid of said processing agent and having a sufiicient length of said liquid-carrying sheet mounted thereon to process a plurality of said exposed frames, means comprising a pair of pressure-applying members between which and with respect to which said photosensitive material, said liquid-carrying sheet and said base sheet are advanced in superposed relation with said base sheet and said photosensitive material constituting the outer layers, said pressure-applying means contacting only the dry surface portions of said outer layers of said superposed materials and subjecting successive increments of said superposed materials to compression to initiate the processing of corresponding increment areas of the photosensitive material, and means forming a chamber adjacent said pressureapplying members and comprising an aperture through which said superposed materials may be advanced into said chamber after being pressed together by said pressure-applying members, said chamber being substantially opaque to light actinic to said photosensitive material, said chamber means comprising a closure member which is movable from closed position to permit access to the interior of said chamber and to the superposed materials contained therein.

9. In a photographic apparatus, means for mounting a supply of photosensitive material,

.means for successively exposing a plurality of frames of said supply of photosensitive material, means comprising a liquid-carrying sheet containing a liquid processing agent and being capable, when pressed into contact with said photo- 12 sensitive material, of releasing part at least of said processing agent to process said photosensitive material and a base sheet upon one surface of which said liquid-carrying sheet is mounted, said base sheet being impervious to the liquid of said processing agent and having a sufiicient length of said liquid-carrying sheet mounted thereon to process a plurality of said exposed frames, means comprising a pair of pressure rollers between which and with respect to which said photosensitive material, said liquid-carrying sheet and said base sheet are advanced in superposed relation with said base sheet and said photosensitive material constituting the outer layers, said pressure rollers contacting onlythe dry surface portions of said outer layers of said superposed materials and subjecting successive increments of said superposed materials to compression to initiate the processing of correspondincrement areas of the photosensitive material, and means forming a chamber adjacent'said pressure rollers and comprising an aperture through which said superposed materials may be advanced into said chamber after being pressed together by said pressure rollers, said chamber being substantially opaque to light actinic to said photosensitive material.

10. In a photographic apparatus, in combination, means for mounting a supply of a multilayer film, said multilayer film comprising three superposed sheetlike portions, said portions comprising an outer portion including a photosensitive layer, another outer portion capable, when brought into face-to-face contact with said firstnamed portion, of subjecting the same to a predetermined processing, and an intermediate portion in the form of a layer separating said outer portions and preventing said processing from taking place, means for holding said film in position for photoexposure, take-up means for stripping said intermediate portion from said outer portions and for storing said intermediate portion, means comprising a pair of'pressureapplying members between which said two outer portions are advanced in face-to-face engagement after removal of said intermediate portion, said pressure-applying members so pressing together said two outer portions as to make possible the transfer of processing material from one to the other of said outer portions to effect the processing of the photosensitive layer, and guide means engaging at least one of said outer portions and cooperating with said take-up means and said pressure-applying members to keep the outer portions separated from said takeup means as said outer portions are advanced from the point at which said intermediate portion is stripped therefrom.

1-1. In a photographic apparatus, in combination, means for mounting a supply of a multilayer film, said multilayer film comprising three superposed sheetlike portions, said portions comprising an outer portion including a photosensitive-layer, another outer portion capable, when brought into face-to-face contact with said first named portion, of subjecting the same to a predetermined processing, and an intermediate portion in the form of a layer separating said outer portions and preventing said processing from takin place, means for holding said film in position for photoexposure, take-up means for stripping said intermediate portion. from said outer portions and for storing said intermediate portion, meanscomprising a pair of pressureapplying members between whichsaid two outeramass? portions are advanced face-to-race engagement after removal of said intermediate portion, said pressure-applying members so pressing to gether said two outer portions as to make possible the transfer of processing material from one to the other of said outer portions to effect the processing of the photosensitive layer, guide means engaging at least one of said outer portions and cooperating with said take-up means and said pressure-applying members to keep the puter portions separated from said take-up means as said outer portions are advanced from the point at which said intermediate portion "is stripped therefrom, means providing a chamber for containing said pressure-applying members, said take-up means and said guide means, and means providing a light-tight passage in said chamber means through which said outer .portions may be discharged from said chamber means as they leave saidipressure-applying members.

12. In a photographic apparatus, in combination, means for mounting a supply of a multilayer film, said multiplayer film comprising three superposed sheetlike portions, said portions comprising an outer portion including'aphotosensitive layer, another outer portion capable, when brought into face-to-face contact with said firstnamed portion, of subjecting the same to a predetermined processing, and an intermediate portion in the form of a layer separating said outer portions and preventing said processing from taking place, means for holding said film in position for photoexposure, take-up means for stripping said intermediate portion "from said outer portions and for storing said intermediate portion, means comprising a pair of pressureapplying members between which said two outer portions are advanced in face-to-face engagement after removal of said intermediate portion, said pressure-applying members so pressing together said two outer portions as to make possible the transfer of processing material from one to the other of said outer portions to effect the processing of the photosensitive layer, guide means engaging at least one of "said outer portions and cooperating with said take-up means and said pressure-applying members to keep the outer portions separated from said take-up means as said outer portions are advanced from the point at which said intermediate portion is stripped therefrom, means providing a chamber for containing said pressure-applying members, said take-up means and said guide means, means providing a light-tight passage in said chamber means through which said outer portions maybe discharged from said chamber means as they leave said pressure-applying members, and means opaque to light actinic to said film for receiving and containing said outer portionsas the latter are discharged through said passage.

13. In a photographic apparatus, in combination, means for mounting a supply of a multi layer film, said multilayer film comprising three superposed sheetlike portions, said portions comprising an outer portion includin a photosensitive layer, another outer portion capable, when brought into face-to-face contact with said firstnamed portion, of subjecting the same to ia predetermined processing, and an intermediate portion in the form of a layer separating-saidouter portions and preventing said processing from taking place, take-up means for strippingsaid'intermediate portion from said outer portions and for storing "said intermediate :portion, means comprising a pair of pressure-applying members between which said two outer portions are advanced in face-to-face engagement after removal of said intermediate portion, said pressure-applying members so pressing together said two outer portions as to make possible the transfer of processing material from one to the other of said outer portions to effect the processing of the photosensitive layer, and guide means engaging at least one of said outer portions and cooperating with said take-up means and said pressureapplyi'njg members to keep the outer portions separated from said take-up means as said outer portions are advanced from the point at which said intermediate portion is stripped therefrom.

14. In a photographic apparatus, in combination, means for mounting a supply of a multilayer film, said multilayer film comprising three superposed sheetlike portions, said portions comprising an outer portion including a photosensitive layer, another outer portion capable, when brought into face-to-face contact with said firstnamed portion, of subjectin the same to a predetermined processing, and an intermediate portion in the form of a layer separating said outer portions and preventing said processing from taking place, take-up means for stripping said intermediate portion from said outer portionsand for storing said intermediate portion, means comprising a pair of pressure-applving rollers between which said two outer portions are advanced in -face-to-face en agement after removal of said intermediate portion, said pressure-applying rollers so pressing to ether'said two outer portions as to make possible the transfer of processin material from one to the other of said outer portions to effect the processing of the photosensitive layer, and guide means engaging at least one of said outer portions and cooperating with said take-up means and said pressure applying rolle s to keep the outer portions separated from said take-up means as said outer portions are advanced from the point at which said intermediate portion is stripped therefrom,

15. Ina photographic apparatus, in combination, means for mounting a supply of a multilayer film, said multilayer film comprising three superposed sheetlike portions, said portions comprising an outer portion including a photosensitive layer, another outer portion capable, when brought into face-to-face contact with said firstnamed portion, of subjecting the same to a predetermined processing, and an intermediate portion in the form of a layer separating said outer portions and preventing said processing from taking place, take-up means for stripping said intermediate portion from said outer portions and for storing said intermediate portion, means comprising a pair of pressure-applying members between which said two outer portions are advanced in face-to-face engagement after removal of said intermediate portion, said pressure-applying members so pressing together said two outer portions as to make possible the transfer of processing material from one to the other of said outer portions to effect the processing of the photosensitive layer, and guide means engaging at least one of said outer portions and cooperating with said take-up means and said pressure-applying members to keep the outer portions separated from said take-up means as said outer portions are advanced from the point at which said intermediate portion is stripped therefrom, said take-up means comprising a take-up roll and saidguide means constituting ahous'ing for said take-up roll.

16. In a photographic apparatus, in combination, means for mounting a supply of a multilayer film, said multilayer film comprising three superposed she'etlike portions, said portions comprising an outer portion includin a photosensitive layer, another outer portion capable, when brought into face-to-face contact with said firstnamed portion, of subjecting the same to a predetermined'processing, and an intermediate portion in the form of a layer separating said outer portions and preventing said processing from taking place, take-up means for stripping said intermediate portion from said outer portions and for storing said intermediate portion, means comprising a pair of pressure-applying members between which said two outer portions are advanced in f-ace-to-face engagement after removal of said intermediate portion, said pressure-applying members so pressing 'together'said two outer portions as to make possible the transfer of processing material from one to the other of said outer portions to effect the processing of the photosensitive layer, and guide means engaging at least one of said outer portions and cooperating with said take-up means and said pressureapplying members to keep the outer portions separated from said'take-up means as said outer portions are advanced from the point at which said intermediate portion is stripped therefrom, one of said outer portions of the film being caused by said cooperation to travel directly from the point at which the intermediate portion is stripped therefrom to the pressure-applying 1 members without contacting other elements of the film or apparatus.

, 17. A storable externallyv dry product for subjecting a photographic, photosensitive element to a liquid treatment, said photosensitive element having as its photosensitive material a heavy metal salt capable of forming a latent image upon photoexposure and capable of being developed to produce a visible image comprising the metal of said salt, said product comprising a liquid-containing sheet which is liquid-permeable and'has liquid substantially uniformly distributed therethrough so that each unit area thereof contains an amount of liquid sufficient to effect a transformation of an image in an equivalent unit area of a photographic, photosensitive layer, said liquid including a reducing agent for developing an exposed portion of said photosensitive element by reducing exposed heavy metal salt and a pair of layers having their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said liquid-containing sheet and impervious to the liquid contained in said sheet, said impervious layers being superposed on opposite sides of said sheet and being wider than said sheet so as to project transversely beyond the edges of said sheet, the transversely projecting portions of said layers being sealed together by a stripping bond along the edges of said sheet to form an envelope for said sheet, one of said impervious layers being strippable, lengthwise and a portion at a time, from the other of said layers and from said liquid-containing sheet and being in substantial contact with a surface of said liquid-containing sheet, the stripping of a portion of said strippable layer exposing a substantially equivalent length of said liquid-containing sheet for direct contact with a photosensitive element and for depthwise transfer of said liquid to said element. H N

18. A storable externally dry product for proc essing a photographic silver halide element, said product comprising a liquid-containing sheet which is liquid-permeable and has liquid substantially uniformly distributed therethroughin an amount such that each unit area thereof contains sufiicient liquid to provide all of the liquid required for the processing of a latent image in an equivalent unit area of a photosensitive silver halide element, said liquid including at least one photographic reagent from the class consisting of the silver halide developers and the silver halide fixers, and a pair of layers having their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said liquid-containing sheet and impervious to the liquid contained in said sheet, said impervious layers being superposed on opposite sides of said sheet and being wider than said sheet so as to project transversely beyond the edges of said sheet, the transversely projecting portions of said layers being sealed together by a stripping bond along the edges of said sheet to form an envelope for said sheet, one of said impervious layers being strippable, lengthwise and a portion at a time, from the other of said layers and from said liquid-contain ing sheet and being in substantial contact with a surface of said liquid-containing sheet, the stripping of a portion of said strippable layer exposing a substantially equivalent length of said liquid-containing sheet for direct contact with a photosensitive, silver halide element and for depthwise transfer of said liquid to said element.

19. The product of claim 18 wherein a silver halide developer is dissolved in the liquid in the sheet.

20. The product of claim 19 wherein the liquidcontaining sheet is a paper and the liquid is an alkaline aqueous solution of the silver halide developer.

21. The product of claim 18 in which the liquid in the liquid-containing sheet contains a silver halide solvent and a silver halide developer and the liquid-containing sheet is capable of serving as a receiving layer for a silver image.

22. A photographic product comprising a photographic, photosensitive element and a liquid-containing element superposed on and substantially coextensive with said photosensitive element, said photosensitive element comprising as its photosensitive material a heavy metal salt capable of forming a latent image upon photoexposure and capable of development to produce a visible image comprising the metal of said salt, said salt being soluble in a photographic fixing solvent, said liquid-containing element comprising a liquid-containing sheet which is liquidpermeable and has liquid substantially uniformly distributed 'therethrough so that each unit area thereof contains an amount of liquid sufficient to effect a transformation of an image in an equivalent unit area of said photosensitive element and a pair of layers having their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said liquid-containingsheet and impervious to the liquid contained in said sheet, said impervious layers beingsuperposed on opposite sides of saidsheet and being wider than said sheet so as to project transversely beyond the edges of said sheet, the transversely projecting portions of said layers being sealed together by a stripping bond to form an envelope for said sheet, one of said impervious layers being in substantial contact with a surface of said liquidcontaining sheet and with said photosensitive element, said last-named impervious layer being strippable, lengthwise and a portion at a time, from said liquid-containing element so as to permit the uncovered portion of said liquidcontaining sheet to contact said photosensitive element and to transfer liquid thereto, said product having positioned therein photographic processing material, including a reducing agent, capable of developing an image in said photosensitive element and in sufficient amount to eifect such development, said processing material being rendered efiective upon transfer of liquid from said liquid-containing sheet to said photosensitive element to carry out said development in said element.

23. A photographic product comprising a photographic, photosensitive, silver halide element and a liquid-containing element superposed on and substantially coextensive with said photosensitive element, said liquid-containing element comprising a liquid-containing sheet which is liquid-permeable and has liquid substantially uniformly distributed therethrough so that each unit area thereof contains an amount of liquid sufficient to effect a transformation of an image in an equivalent unit area of said photosensitive element and a pair of layers having their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said liquid-containing sheet and impervious to the liquid contained in said sheet,

said impervious layers being superposed on opposite sides of said sheet and being wider than said sheet so as to project transversely beyond the edges of said sheet, the transversely projecting portions of said layers being sealed together by a stripping bond to form an envelope for said sheet, one of said impervious layers being in substantial contact with a surface of said liquidcontaining sheet and with said photosensitive element, said last-named impervious layer being strippable, lengthwise and a portion at a time, from said liquid-containing element so as to permit the uncovered portion of said liquid-c0ntain ing sheet to contact said photosensitive element and to transfer liquid thereto, said product hav- 24. The product of claim 23 wherein the processing material develops the silver halide element and provides an image by transfer on the liquidcontaining sheet.

25. The product of claim 22 wherein the photosensitive element comprises a silver halide layer and the photographic processing material includes a silver halide developer.

26. The product of claim 25 wherein the silver halide developer is dissolved in the liquid in the sheet.

27. The product of claim 26 wherein the sheet is a paper and the liquid is an alkaline aqueous solution of the silver halide developer.

28. The product of claim'23 wherein the processing material includes a silver halide solvent as well as the silver halide developer, and the sheet is capable of serving as a receiving layer for a silver image.

29. The product of claim 28 wherein the developer and solvent are dissolved in the liquid in the sheet.

30. The product of claim 29 wherein the liquid is an aqueous alkaline solution of the developer and the solvent, and the sheet is a paper.

EDWIN H. LAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 642,941 West Feb. 6, 1900 853,643 Lumiere May 14, 1907 929,757 Ellis Aug. 3, 1909 1,207,042 Hochstetter Dec. 5, 1916 1,377,454 Beidler May 10, 1921 1,592,379 Marle July 13, 1926 1,599,147 Schmidt et a1 Sept. 7, 1926 2,082,962 Lesjak June 8, 1937 2,322,005 Fierke June 15, 1943 2,322,006 Fierke June 15, 1943 2,322,027 Jelley et al. June 15, 1943 2,347,640 Peters May 2, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 328,762 Great Britain May 8, 1930 567,011 Germany July 22, 1931 470,197 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1937 

1. IN APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER ADAPTED TO SUBJECT A MULTILAYER FILM TO A PREDETERMINED PROCESSING, SAID MULTILAYER FILM COMPRISING THREE SUPERPOSED SHEET-LIKE PORTIONS, SAID PORTIONS COMPRISING AN OUTER PORTION INCLUDING A PHOTOSENSITIVE LAYER, ANOTHER OUTER PORTION CAPABLE, WHEN PRESSED INTO FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WITH SAID FIRST-NAMED PORTION, OF SUBJECTING THE PHOTOSENSITIVE LAYER THEREOF TO A PREDETERMINED PROCESSING, AND A THIRD PORTION INTERMEDIATE SAID OUTER PORTIONS PREVENTING FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT THEREOF, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, MEANS FOR REMOVING SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION, SAID REMOVING MEANS COMPRISING A TAKE-UP ROLL AND A HOUSING WHEREIN SAID TAKE-UP ROLL IS 